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Unresolved contracts leading to ‘uncertainty’

New figures have highlighted the problems that beset the government’s dental reforms, according to the British Dental Association (BDA).

The statistics show that 12 months after the introduction of the new contract in England, 396 of the 2,726 contracts originally signed in dispute are yet to be resolved.

The failure to resolve the problems with the contracts, which represent more than one in seven of the total number signed in dispute, means continuing uncertainty for dentists and patients alike, claimed the Association.

BDA chief executive Peter Ward said: ‘These figures are bad news for dentists and patients alike. A full year after the introduction of the new contract, nearly 400 disputed contracts still haven’t been resolved. This adds up to continuing uncertainty for NHS dentistry.

‘Tony Blair’s pledge that everybody who wanted to access an NHS dentist would be able to do so has not been fulfilled. It is clear that urgent action is required to address the problems with the government’s reforms.’